ecently published by Mr. Leland bear manifest marks of French
influence.

Left thus in the dark without historical information as to the 'cradle'
of _Maerchen_, without clear and copious knowledge as to _recent_
borrowing from European traders and settlers, and without the power of
setting limits to the possibility of _coincidence_, we are unable to
give any general answer to the sphinx of popular tales. We only know for
certain that there is practically no limit to the chances of
transmission in the remote past of the race. Wherever man, woman, or
child can go, there a tale may go, and may find a new home. Any drifted
and wandering canoe, any captured alien wife, any stolen slave passed
from hand to hand in commerce or war, may carry a _Maerchen_. These
processes of transmission have been going on, practically, ever since
man was man. Thus it is even more difficult to limit the possibilities
of transmission than the chances of coincidence. But the chances of
coincidence also are numerous. The _ideas_ and _situations_ of popular
tales are all afloat, everywhere, in the imaginations of early and of
pre-scientific men. Who can tell how often they might casually unite in
similar wholes, independently combined?

[Footnote 99: _Rites of the Yncas_, Francisco de Avila. Hakluyt
Society.]

[Illustration: Charles Perrault.]

HISTOIRES

OU

CONTES
DU TEMPS PASSE.

_Avec des Moralitez._

A PARIS,

Chez CLAUDE BARBIN, sur le
second Peron de la Sainte-Chapelle,
au Palais.

_Avec Privilege de Sa Majeste._

M.DC.XCVII.

TABLE

des Contes de ce Recueeil.

_La belle au bois dormant_ p. 7

_Le petit chaperon rouge_ p. 20

_La Barbe bleuee_ p. 23

_Le Maistre Chat, ou le Chat Botte_ p. 30

_Les Fees_ p. 37

_Cendrillon, ou la petite pantoufle de verre_ p. 41

_Riquet a la Houppe_ p. 50

_Le petit Poucet_ p. 60

A

MADEMOISELLE

MADEMOISELLE,

_On ne trouvera pas etrange qu'un Enfant ait pris plaisir a composer les
Contes de ce Recueeil, mais on s'etonnera qu'il ait eu la hardiesse de
vous les presenter. Cependant,_ MADEMOISELLE, _quelque disproportion
qu'il y ait entre la simplicite de ces Recits, & les lumieres de vostre
esprit,